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Rick’s sets benefit for families of fire victims |
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Saturday, 09 January 2010 |
By KELLY DANIELS
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People who wish to help the families of the South Louisville Street fire victims may contribute by dancing to old motown and R & B tunes at Ricks Cafe.
On Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m., participants can make donations with a $5 entrance fee, which will go to the Oktibbeha County Red Cross fund set aside for the families of those who died by smoke inhalation in the Academy Crossing fire.
The victims were India Williams, 25, her three children, Castella “Maria” Bell, 18, her three children and Lakesha Gillespie, 20. The children were from six months to six years old.
Rick Welch, owner of Rick’s Cafe, said a long-time local band, The Flames, will play for the benefit.
Noting the irony of the band’s name, Welch said the circumstance was coincidental, and the band members, who knew the victims and their families, readily volunteered.
“In irony, there is help,” Welch said.
The band, which began over four decades ago, are a party mainstay known for playing songs performed by Al Green, James Brown, The Temptations and the Commodores.
“We saw a lot of support for these families and thought it was a good time to come together and do something,” said Deshun Harrington, booker of The Flames.
His father, Willie Harrington, is the lead singer.
Also in the band are: Raymond Doss on the base, Fred Rice playing lead guitar, Scottie Vaughn and James Peter Crawfort on the drums, Walter Cunningham on the sax and John Ellis as James Brown. Local Elvis impersonator Bill Davis will also perform.
“It’s a big band,” Harrington said.
Amy Latham, Rick’s Cafe’s kitchen director, knew the Bell family well and keeps in close contact with them.
Latham spearheaded the idea of having a benefit at Rick’s Cafe.
“All fire deaths are tragic, but I had a personal connection with this family,” she said.
Latham used to take Bell’s children to play her own grandchildren.
“The family was really good to me. I had a granddaughter who died last year and then I had surgery, and they were always coming by and checking on me,” she said.
The Rick’s Cafe staff are also working for free on Sunday.
“I put up a sign up sheet for volunteers, and I had more people sign up than I needed,” Welch said.
For more information, call (662) 323-RICK.
People who wish to donate may also attend a benefit at Club VIP organized by JlE. Entertainment of Jackson. Funds raised will go directly to the families of the fire victims who lost their lives.
For more information, call (601) 567-2962 or (601) 415-2238 or send e-mail to
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 16 January 2010 )
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